[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 92 (Wednesday, June 10, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E875]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CHRISTIAN PASTOR DUONG KIM KHAI JAILED IN VIETNAM

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 10, 2015

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, since the early 1990's, Pastor Duong 
Kim Khai has been detained or arrested thirteen times. The first time 
he was arrested he was just 14 years old. Usually, he is arrested for 
simply organizing Christian prayer sessions. Most recently, he was 
arrested in August 2010 for his efforts to advocate for religious 
freedom and social justice. The trumped up charge? Attempting to 
overthrow the government.
  For this, he was sentenced to 2-8 years in prison and 3-5 years 
probation and house arrest.
  Unfortunately, his wife, who was denied permission to visit him in 
prison, died before she could see him again. In 2011, the UN Working 
Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled that the Vietnam government's 
detention and conviction of Pastor Duong Kim Khai and six other 
activists were in violation of international law.
  But the State Department refuses to include Vietnam as a Country of 
Particular Concern for religious freedom. The Pastor is not only a 
spiritual leader in his community but he also works to promote 
democracy and help victims of injustice. For example, he has served as 
an advocate for Vietnamese farmers whose land was confiscated by the 
government.
  Pastor Duong Kim Khai's trial was a sham and imprisonment is 
unacceptable. Freedom to worship is a human right and the Vietnamese 
government should immediately release him. Until they do, the State 
Department should call it like it is and recognize Vietnam as a Country 
of Particular Concern.
  And that's just the way it is.

                          ____________________